Running-gear.



T.J.STRUPP. I RUNNING GEAR. I

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 7, 1913.

1,094,492 Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

[N VEN TOR A tlomey COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. c

THEODOR- J. STRUPP, OF ELKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

RUNNING- GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Application filed March '7, 1913. Serial No. 752,676.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THEoDoR J. S'rnurr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkton, in the county of Brookings and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Gear, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel and improved vehicle running gear which is applicable to wagons and sleds, and to provide improved means for connecting the reach to the front and rear portions of the running gear;

The invention also has for its object to provide a swiveled connection between the reach and the rear portion of the running gear, and to provide an improved reach structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the detailed description appearing hereinafter, and in order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved running gear. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one-half of the fifthwheel, and Fig. lis a similar view of the other half thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a collar to be hereinafter described.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the reach of my improved running gear comprises two tubular sections 10 and 11, respectively, which are telescopically connected so that the reach may be lengthened or shortened. The section 10, which is at the rear, extends at its forward end into the rear end of the front section 11, and by means of a pin 12, passing through registering apertures in the telescoping portions of the sections, the same are fastened together in adjusted position, a series of apertures for this purpose being provided. Upon removing the pin, the sections can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the reach. The forward extremity of the sect-ion 10 has an external collar 13, and the rear extremity of the section 11 has an internal collar lt. These collars serve as abutments to prevent the sections from being entirely disconnected or separated endwise, and they may be formed by bending or upsetting the ends of the sections. In order to prevent rattling of the reach sections, spring tongues 15 are struck up from the telescoping portion of the section 10, which tongues frictionally bear against theinner surface of the section 11.

The forward end of the reach section 11 is connected to the front bolster 16 by means of a. socket-piece into which said section extends and in which it is bolted. The socketpiece is in two sections, to wit, a top sec tion 17, and a bottomsection 18. The bolts 19 fastening the reach section in the socketpiece pass through both sections of the latter. The top section 17 has a base portion 20 which is bolted to the rear face of the bolster. The bottom section 18 has a flat transversely elongated extension 21 which fits against the under side of the bolster and is bolted thereto, said extension forming the upper section of a fifth-wheel. The bot-tom section 22 of the fifth-wheel is bolted on top of the axle 23 if the running gear is used for a wagon, or to the cross-bunk of the front bob of a sled if the gear is applied to a bob sled.

The section 21 carries a king-bolt 24 which passes through the section 22 and the axle or bunk. The bolt hole in the section 22 is surrounded by a circular raised portion 25 which seats in a corresponding depression in the section 21. On the bottom of the axle or the bunk is mounted a plate 26 having a depending tubular extension 27 through which the king-bolt passes. To the extension is connected a brace rod 28 which extends rearward and upward and is connected to a collar 29 mounted on the reach section 11. That end of the brace rod which is connected to the extension 27 has an eye through which said extension passes, and below the latter the king-bolt carries a cotter pin 30 for preventing the brace rod from dropping 01f. The collar 29 has outstanding ears between which the rear end of the brace rod is secured by a bolt 31 passing through said parts. This bolt also serves to clamp the collar in place on the reach section 11, and to further hold the collar, the latter has an internal lug 32 which seats in a recess in the reach section.

The structure hereinbefore described provides a strong and rigid connection between the reach and the front portion of the running gear.

At 33 is indicated the rear bolster and at 3% the corresponding axle or sled bunk. Between those parts are secured the rear hounds 35 which converge forward and carry at their forward ends top and bottom hound-plates 36 which extend across the space between said ends of the hounds. The rear reach section 10 passes through the space between the hounds and between the hound-plates, and the intermediate portions of the latter are bowed so as to fit partly around said reach section and form bearings therefor. The reach section passes loosely through this bearing. Behind the hound-plates, the reach section carries a split collar 37 fastened by a bolt 38. This collar abuts against the rear edges of the hound-plates and serves as a stop or abutment to limit the forward movement of the reach. The collar is split so that it may grip and frictionally engage the reach section to prevent rattling. The end of the collar which engages the hound-plates has an outstanding flange 39.

The rear end of the reach section lies loosely between the parts 33 and 34 in de bottom of the axle or bunk 341-, and the hounds 35 extend braces 42. By the hereindescribed connection between the reach and the rear bolster and associate parts, the latter are swiveled to the reach and are therefore free to rock sidewise without bending or twisting the reach.

I claim:

In a vehicle running gear, a reach, a front bolster, a cylindrical socket-piece comprising top and bottom sections encircling the forward end of the reach, bolts securing the reach in the socket-piece, said bolts passing through both sections thereof, the top section having a base portion which abuts against the rear face of the bolster and is secured thereto, and the bottom section having a transversely elongated extension which fits the under side of the bolster and is bolted thereto, said extension being shaped to form the upper section of a fiftlrwheel.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THEODOR J. STRUPP.

Witnesses O. WV, MARSHALL, P. A. LYNCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

